Filing a criminal complaint — the right approach as a victim or witness
Reporting a criminal offense — for certain offenses, a time-limited request for prosecution is also required.
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Quick check: what should you do?
3 short questions — no sign-up required.
Deadline at a glance
Request for prosecution for offenses prosecuted only on request: 3 months from knowledge
§ 77b StGB
The criminal complaint (Strafanzeige) itself is not subject to any deadline (other than the limitation period for the offense) — for offenses prosecuted only on request, however, the additional request for prosecution (Strafantrag) must be made within 3 months of knowledge of the offense and the offender.
It is an AI, not a person: nobody looks at your individual case, and we do not know who signs up or for what reason. That is why we give pointers, but no legal advice on the individual case. Guidelines and playbooks in the platform are only guardrails: the AI relies on the available sources and your information. AI can make mistakes — check important results, and if in doubt, ask a lawyer.
What we pay special attention to
Curated from real cases. The AI review flags exactly these points in your document.
The 3-month deadline for filing a request for prosecution (Strafantrag) in offenses prosecuted only on request is frequently overlooked.
Evidence (messages, photos, witnesses) is easily lost without prompt preservation.
Without a file reference, it is difficult to follow the further progress of the proceedings.
What you can do here in 5 minutes
A criminal offense can be reported to the police, the public prosecutor’s office or the local court (§ 158 StPO), in writing or orally for the record. In the case of so-called offenses prosecuted only on request (Antragsdelikte) (e.g. certain cases of bodily harm or insult), the offense is prosecuted only upon an express request for prosecution (Strafantrag) — this must be made within three months of knowledge of the offense and the offender. This concerns reporting as a victim or witness — not the defense against a criminal accusation against yourself.
Describe the facts — we structure the complaint chronologically and objectively, point out any request for prosecution that may be necessary and prepare the letter.
Results in three steps
Secure facts & evidence
Compile a chronological account, available evidence and witnesses.
Check the request for prosecution
For offenses prosecuted only on request, make the request for prosecution expressly and in time (3 months) at the same time.
File the complaint
File it with the police, the public prosecutor’s office or the local court and request a case reference number.
- Secure facts & evidence – Compile a chronological account, available evidence and witnesses.
- Check the request for prosecution – For offenses prosecuted only on request, make the request for prosecution expressly and in time (3 months) at the same time.
- File the complaint – File it with the police, the public prosecutor’s office or the local court and request a case reference number.
- No criminal defense (that is the accused person’s perspective — there is a separate section for that).
- No representation as a private accessory prosecutor in court.
- No psychosocial support during proceedings.
Transparency
What the AI checks — and what only a lawyer can decide
An AI is only as good as the question. We show openly where your answer is reliable and where you should speak with a lawyer.
For serious offenses, if you are interested in joining as a private accessory prosecutor (Nebenklage), or if you are unsure whether an offense prosecuted only on request is involved.
More letters & checks
- Fine noticeAccused of a regulatory offense? At 2 weeks, the objection period is considerably shorter than for most other official decisions.
- Check T&C clausesExclusion of liability, notice period, automatic contract renewal — not every clause in standard terms and conditions is valid.
- Health insurer refusesTherapy, medical aid or rehabilitation refused? Often the insurer has missed its own response deadline — in which case the benefit is already deemed approved.
- Care level objectionThe long-term care insurer almost always follows the assessment of the Medical Service — if you object, you should check it module by module.
